New MP3 and tour news - Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire

“One of Adelaide’s leading musical lights.” dB

“Caitlin Duff has the kind of voice that will make guys start dribbling

on their perfectly worn-in cons.” Drum Media Sydney

“Phenomenal” Rave

Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! have spent the past couple of years being Adelaide’s best kept secret, playing enthusiastic and passionate shows supporting some of the best international and national touring acts around, including the Rapture's Matt B. Safer, Spank Rock, Sia, Midnight Juggernauts, Muscles, Young and Restless, Sarah Blasko, Red Riders, Something For Kate, Dappled Cities, and Snowman.

They have also done their fair share of the the festival circuit, playing at the Big Day Out, Parklife and Homebake.

The band’s debut album will be released late summer 2010 and will include their singles to date, War Coward and Animal Spirit Guide, plus this new gem, Witch House.

Witch House [mp3]

In true Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! style, Witch House is an eclectic track with a stoner-rock swagger, matched with Caitlin Duff’s animated and infectious vocals.

The band recently played with The Bumblebeez, Bertie Blackman, and Sugar Army, and are shortlisted as one of the ten finalists for the 2009 Qantas Spirit Of Youth Award.

Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! are:
David - Guitar, Vox Sam - Drums Josh - Bass Art - Synth Nate - Guitar Caitlin - Vox, Synth

Touring with ‘I Heart Hiroshima’
Fri 23 Oct - Geelong, National Hotel
Sat 24 Oct - Melbourne, Northcote Social Club
Sun 25 Oct - Adelaide, Enigma Bar
Fri 30 Oct - Port Macquarie, Laurieton Hotel
Sun 1 Nov - Sydney, Annandale Hotel
Sat 7 Nov - Meningie SA, LILKAFEST 2009

Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! on myspace
Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! website

The band’s debut album will be released late summer 2010 through Dot Dash/ Remote Control.

New mp3 and tour news - Space Invadas 'Life' and debut shows

Hot on the heels of the success of the first single Original, Katalyst & Steve Spacek team up with Jade Macrae to bring you Life.

Life is all about the plans and regrets, the ups and downs that we all experience.

It gives us the message that staying true to ourselves is the best approach to all the issues we face.

Upbeat big band horns and driving drums combine with Spacek’s urgent delivery, giving the track an instant summer vibe.

Take a listen
Space Invadas - Life [mp3]

Space Invadas will bring their phenomenal sound to the stage this November for some live shows in Sydney and Melbourne (with 5 piece band in tow).

Nov 19th – Toff In Town, Melbourne
Nov 20th - Melt, Sydney

Look to the sky and listen. Space Invadas are coming.

Black Cab live on Triple R

Next Thursday (Oct 15th) Black Cab will be dropping into the Triple R performance space to play a set for the Spring Loaded Series.

The performance will be airing live on Triple R 102.7FM and streaming at rrr.org.au
Melbournites with Triple R memberships can email blackcab@rrr.org.au to win a free double pass!
Don't miss out.

Ned Collette + Wirewalker video Come Clean + AOL Spinner mp3 of the day

Ned Collette + Wirewalker are already being picked up on the international radar with their track Come Clean chosen by AOL Spinner as mp3 of the day!

Here is the brand new film clip for the track, directed by Natalie van den Dungen

You will be able to find Come Clean on Ned Collette + Wirewalker's new album 'Over The Stones, Under The Stars' out Oct 23 through Dot Dash.

Touring November:
Fri 13 Nov - Adelaide, Metro* (tickets on sale here)
Fri 20 Nov - Bateman's Bay, North St Bar
Sat 21 Nov - Sydney, Raval (tickets on sale here)
Fri 27 Nov - Melbourne, Northcote Social Club (tickets on sale here)
Sat 28 Nov - Hobart, Alley Cat
[All shows will be with Teeth & Tongue except * with Laura Jean]

nedcollette.com
myspace.com/nedcollette

Look out! Love Of Diagrams coming your way

Love Of Diagram's new album Nowhere Forever is out and has been causing quite the stir.

ALBUM OF THE WEEK at

RRR Melbourne

SYN Melbourne

RTR Perth

FBI Sydney

Edge Radio Hobart

MX Newspaper

Fasterlouder

And now Love Of Diagrams set about taking their album to the punters live.

The band will be launching their album around the country from next week in
MELBOURNE Fri Sep 11 - Northcote Social Club [tickets on sale]
SYDNEY Thu 17 Sep - The Annandale [tickets on sale]
ADELAIDE Fri Oct 2 - The Jade Monkey
with dates in BRISBANE, PERTH and HOBART to be announced shortly

If you can't get enough
- the band talk us through the album track by track on Mess & Noise.
- perform a live to air set on Rebellious Jukebox on PBSFM Melbourne this Saturday 5th Sep, stream it live from 10.30pm AEST
- and Luke and Antonia have a chat and guest programme on RRR's Transference next Tue 8th Sep, stream it live from 5.30pm AEST

Nowhere Forever is out now through Unstable Ape/ Remote Control.

New Jessica Says video and Melbourne show

I'll Set The Night Upon You is the debut video from Melbourne wunderkind Jessica Says. Filmed in stark black and white the video is a homage to the classic film If. Jessica revisits her past as a waitress, in a charming piece of kitchen sink melodrama. I’ll Set The Night Upon You, features cameo vocals by Sally Seltmann (New Buffalo) and is a keynote track from the acclaimed album We Need To Talk.

Watch it and weep indie-lings:


Jessica Says also has a show coming up in Melbourne this Friday. August 28 at Bella Union Bar at Trades Hall, supported by Kid Sam and Tragic/ Athletic. Jessica Says will include Geoff O'Connor (Crayon Fields, Sly Hats) on guitar, Ollie Browne (Art Of FIghting) on drums and Jessica's brother Nick Venables on violin. What a treat!

Jessica Says plays
Bella Union at Trades Hall, Melbourne
Friday August 28
w/ Kid Sam and Tragic/ Athletic
Doors open 8pm
Tickets available $12 bellaunion.com.au or phone 03 9650 5600
or $15 at the door if still available

We Need To Talk has evoked a strong response from radio and critics, including being featured as Album Of The Week on ABC Radio National, and named Album Of The Week by MX, Beat Magazine and The Brag.

We Need To Talk is out now through Unstable Ape.

Snowman play La Route Du Rock Festival, France this weekend

Snowman have been invited to play La Route Du Rock Festival in Saint Malo (France) this Friday. The band will be replacing The Horrors who had to pull out due to illness, and will be sharing the bill with the likes of My Bloody Valentine, Tortoise, Deerhunter and Crystal Stilts. Snowman hit stage at 2.30 am right after A Place to Bury Strangers.

After this show we will play a London show at the Legion (348 Old Street, Hackney) Sunday 16/08/09. We will be on stage around 10pm.

The band have been sinking their teeth into life in the UK. They have been busy writing new songs for their next record - word is they have stepped into the light after their post-apocalyptic sounding record The Horse, The Rat and The Swan of 2008. And they all headed to Iceland last month for the wedding of drummer Ross to bass player Olga! Awww...

We can't wait to hear the new sounds! Maybe the lucky French buggers will get to hear some of the new tunes this weekend.

You can follow their overseas movements by joining their group on Facebook.

Sydney: Ned Collette & Wirewalker in your town tomorrow night!

Hello friends,

We're about to go where none of us has ever gone before - on a Tiger Airways flight. To Sydney. We've been there before although it does seem a while since we flew - usually it's the world's worst coffee and pies in Holbrook for us, then turn left at the Hopetoun.....

But this weekend - tomorrow night to be exact we're playing our first Sydney show since last September, and we're doing it at The Factory Theatre, which by all accounts is enourmous, so if you're a Sydneysider on this list or know any, please come on down, so to speak.

Also on the bill are the excellent Wifey, and in the middle spot Sui Zhen. Doors are at 7.30 for an 8.30 start and we'll be on just after 10pm. We'll be previewing a whole bunch of stuff off the new album as well as playing some ear-poppingly re-arranged versions of old news.

You can buy tickets now online or by calling the box office on (02) 9550 3666. They are $15+bf. Or $18 on the door, unless it sells out, which it wont.

NED COLLETTE & WIREWALKER

SUI ZHEN

WIFEY

FRIDAY JULY 17

THE FACTORY THEATRE

105 VICTORIA ST, MARRICKVILLE

SYDNEEEEEEY!!!!

Stay tuned for news about a mega-benefit at the Tote July 26, the latest on the album (yes it is finally finished, and almost christened), and more for the rest of the year.

Cheerio,

NC&W

www.nedcollette.com

St Helens free all ages live instore at Polyester Records Melbourne city this Thursday

St. Helens Play Live Instore @ Polyester Records
6pm this Thur 16th July @ City Store (288 Flinders Lane)

St. Helens will be playing live at Polyester Records city store at 6pm this Thursday. The album has been receiving amazing reviews all around town and already touted by many that it will feature in end of year favourite album lists.

All Polyester Records instore shows are free and all ages are welcome!

“one of the best local debuts in recent times” The Age ****

“a timeless world” Sydney Morning Herald ****

“razor sharp guitar interplay and bitter-sweet, intertwining vocals” Triple J

“Heavy Profession is a rock record proper, romantic and drunk on poetic absolutes like all good bleeding heart music should be.” Threethousand

Heavy Profession is out now through Dot Dash.

Love of Diagrams launch 7" in Melbourne and Sydney

Last month we blogged a taster of Love Of Diagrams forthcoming album Nowhere Forever.

The track Forever will be launched as a 7" in Melbourne this weekend, and Sydney next weekend.

Be sure to catch the shows to hear more from the band's forthcoming new record Nowhere Forever.

Melbourne: Sat July 4th at The Tote w. The Twerps and Chris Smith
Sydney: Fri July 10th at Spectrum w. Songs

Lee Memorial in Parts and Pieces

Melbourne readers, stop by the Marquis of Lorne Sunday afternoons in July to catch Karl Smith of Lee Memorial (and ex-Sodastream) playing solo.

Joining him through the month will be the great Matt Bailey (Paradise Motel), fellow Lee Memorial buddies, Tom Lyngcoln (Nation Blue) and Laura MacFarlane (99) as well as new friends, Otouto (Hazel Brown).

The Lives Of Lee Memorial is out now through Dot Dash.

Ned Collette & Wirewalker in Sydney Fri July 17

NED COLLETTE & WIREWALKER
FRIDAY JULY 17
FACTORY THEATRE
w. Sui Zhen & Wifey

The last year has seen Melbourne's Ned Collette and his newly christened Wirewalker forging a devoted underground following around the globe. Since last playing in Sydney the band have toured Europe twice while Collette based himself in Glasgow to write album number three; played the exceedingly exclusive Camp A Low Hum festival in NZ; supported Augie March on various Australian shows, and played both the Summer and Castle Tones festivals on the Mistletone calendar. They have just returned from mixing the new album in New York, and now they play an increasingly rare Sydney performance at The Factory Theatre on July 17. New songs will be unveiled in what is ostensibly an album preview show, but fans can expect a smattering of the old as well - reworked into the the trio format, which veers from minute, sparse evocations of Collette's lyrics to wild free squalls of instrumental abandon. Very special guests on the night will be Sydney's own Sui Zhen and Wifey.



Tickets available now from www.factorytheatre.com.au or on (02) 9550 3666

New Space Invadas mp3 and video - Original

In 1960's when aliens visited earth, they took many things back into space to analyse. One of the things they took was numerous examples of soul music. Feeling a great affiliation with the music they proceeded to write thier own songs. Not having the vintage equiptment to record them properly, they sent them to Space Invadas to record. The music they make is known as Soul-Fi.

Here's the first single Original from the debut Soul-Fi album from new project Space Invadas - a group formed by Steve Spacek (as vocalist) and Katalyst (as producer). Their first collab made it into Giles Peterson's top 20 tracks for 2008 and went on to be licensed to many compilations around the Galaxy.

Original is the 1st single from the forthcoming album of soul music for 2009, Soul-Fi. It features emcee's Buff 1 from Detroit and RuCL from Melbourne.

It is inspired by the idea of striving to be original in what you create. Too many times in this day and age things are recycled and not added to. Originality comes from the evolution of ideas.

The tracks hypnotic rhythm and melody give it a contemporary feel but the synthesizers and cracking back beat are firmly rooted in a time past. The track has a catchy hook that outlines what it’s all about. "Original.... don't you get".

Steve sets the tone with his verse, vibing off the groove and the idea of staying original; Buff1 and RuCL follow both delivering concise and dynamic raps about staying true to themselves and keeping their art fresh and true to their beliefs. You can expect to see this one light up the dancefloor as this beat is up tempo and contagious.



Original [buy mp3 from itunes]

Soul-Fi will be out later this year through Invada.

New Wolf & Cub video T-Rex cover

Wolf & Cub appeared on JTV/ Triple J's Like A Version earlier this week.

If you missed it you can catch it here. Click on the image to play:


The band continue their tour around the country so be sure to catch them live in your neck of the woods:

WOLF & CUB
Science and Sorcery album tour, supported at all shows by The Scare

Wed 24 Jun - Warnambool, The Loft
Thurs 25 June -Geelong, Barwon Club
Fri 26 Jun - Melbourne, Corner Hotel,
Sat 27 June - Ballarat, Karova Lounge,
Weds 1 Jul - Woolgoolga NSW, Seaview Tavern
Thurs 2 Jul -Currumbin OLD, Sound Lounge
Fri 3 July - Brisbane, The Zoo
Sat 4 Jul -Noosa, Woombye Hotel
Sun 5 Jul - Byron Bay, Great Northern Hotel
Thurs 9 Jul - Margaret River WA, Settlers Tavern
Fri 10 Jul - Bunbury, Prince of Wales
Sat 11 Jul - Perth, Rosemount Hotel
Sun 12 Jul - Fremantle, Mojo's

Science & Sorcery is out now through Dot Dash.

New Black Cab mp3 Black Angel

“I’m leavin’ the sun – and I’m coming to rescue you’

After an extended break Black Cab release a new double single from their forthcoming third album, Call Signs. The single features ‘Rescue’ and ‘Black Angel’, a tribute to ‘70’s tragic singer song-writing genius Judee Sill, one of Geffen Records earliest signings whose life ended in the late ‘70’s in drug hazed obscurity. The bands’ third album Call Signs is due out August 1st on Sydney’s Laughing Outlaw label, distributed through Inertia.

Black Angel [mp3]

The double single will be released in late June and the band will be launching the single at Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club on Friday July 17th. The band will be touring Sydney and Brisbane in September.

www.interstate40music.com

www.myspace.com/black_cab

St Helens live at RRR performance space Wednesday & in Sydney Friday

St Helens perform in both Melbourne and Sydney this week.

The band are performing a live broadcast in the RRR performance space (at their studios in cnr Nicholson St and Blyth St, Brunswick East) this Wednesday 24th June, 6.30pm.

We have some double passes to give away to this exclusive performance so if you'd like to come email us at rsvp@remotecontrolrecords.com.au by 5pm tomorrow Tuesday 23rd June and we'll confirm if you got one!

And if you're in Sydney make sure to pop along to their Sydney launch this Friday:



St Helens 'Heavy Profession' is out now through Dot Dash.

SCIENCE AND SORCERY TOUR KICKS OFF

Wolf & Cub's 20 date national tour kicked off last Thursday in Tassie and will see the boys play all over the continent until mid July.

Get your tickets here if you haven't already.


The band also dropped into Triple J Studios to record a rare acoustic set including a cover of T-Rex's Mambo Sun. Check it out here.

Wolf & Cub's latest album Science And Sorcery is out now through Dot Dash.

WOLF & CUB AFTERPARTY AND FBI FUNDRAISER AT PURPLE SNEAKERS

Put it in your diaries:

REMOTE CONTROL/PURPLE SNEAKERS MONTHLY PRESENTS

WOLF & CUB OFFICIAL AFTERPARTY & FBI FUNDRAISER
FRIDAY 19TH JUNE 2009




live performances by
PAPA vs PRETTY
DEEP SEA ARCADE

DJ sets from
WOLF & CUB
FBI DJs
PURPLE SNEAKERS DJs

*Purple Sneakers and Remote Control will be donation $2 from every payer that comes through the door to help keep FBI 94.5 alive

FRIDAY 19TH JUNE 2009 7PM – LAAATEEEEE $11 @ THE ABERCROMBIE HOTEL
Crn broadway and abercrombie st


It’s that time of the month again when Purple Sneakers and Remote Control jump into bed for another Party Extravaganza! This time we are teaming up to help FBI raise some much needed funds.

I am sure you have all heard about the problems FBI 94.5 are facing at the moment. FBI is Australia’s largest community broadcaster and because of this they have the highest running costs of any community broadcaster. They need $1,000,000 to continue working and thankfully tonnes of people have gotten behind them to raise the much needed funds.

All of us here at Purple Sneakers and Remote Control understand the importance of keeping the station running so we have decided to run a fundraising event of our own. So on Friday 19th June we are putting on a huge event starting with live performances by PAPA vs PRETTY and DEEP SEA ARCADE. Then later in the evening we have DJ sets form WOLF & CUB, FBI DJs and the PURPLE SNEAKERS DJs

We are stoked to be launching the hot new album from Wolf & Cub – ‘Science & Sorcery’ - the night will also host Wolf & Cub’s official after party. Check the website – www.boundarysounds.com to be in the running to win a signed copy of the new album!

Don’t Forget Purple Sneakers Happy hour is from 7pm – 9pm every Friday! $10 Jugs of Coopers Lager and $3 glasses of Champagne.

Before hitting the afterparty check out Wolf & Cub performing live at the Oxford Arts Factory Friday 19th June

New Love Of Diagrams mp3 - Forever

(Photo by Lauren Bamford)

After much anticipation, LOVE OF DIAGRAMS finally unleash the first taste of their new album NOWHERE FOREVER, in the form of a limited edition 7” vinyl single.

The A-side of the single is Forever, a guitar-heaven explosion that hints at the pleasures to come on the new album.

Recorded in November ‘08 at Bear Creek Studios in Seattle with producer Ryan Hadlock (Gossip, Blonde Redhead, Steve Malkmus among many more), NOWHERE FOREVER, is the guitar-drenched dream-pop record LOVE OF DIAGRAMS have always wanted to make.

The 7” perfectly captures Love Of Diagrams’ transition from the pared-back minimalism and live-as-possible aesthetic of their 2007 album MOSAIC, (captured on the B-side of the vinyl by the exclusive older live favourite ‘With your Instinct’) to their new experimentation with warmer textures and layered sounds on the new album

Forever is a perfect little slice of the sonic textures, pop hooks, and guitar heavy sounds that LOVE OF DIAGRAMS have dreamed up on the new album.

The 7” is out July 1st on the band’s own Free Field Records.

The album NOWHERE FOREVER is released later in the winter on Unstable Ape/Remote Control.

7” Launches:

Melbourne: Sat July 4th at The Tote w. The Twerps and Chris Smith
Sydney: Fri July 10th at Spectrum w. Songs

Forever [mp3]<

Looking for mp3s?
Check out our free mp3 download page here!

SNOWMAN CALLING

Our favourite expats Snowman have been keeping very busy over in the UK playing shows with LA's HEALTH, supporting the Drones and winning fans far and wide including The Bad Seeds/Grinderman's Jim Scalvunous.
Joe McKee recently dropped us a line to let us know what's going on in the world of Snowman.

Hello all,

It's been a while between words, we know, and for this we are sorry.

We have been rather occupied of late...furiously writing for the next Snowman record. It is sounding like 'somewhere else' again. We have a title that seems to be sticking...we may reveal that in the near future....It seems to be guiding the sound of the songs.

We have played a few shows of late...most recently with our dear compadres The Drones...it was a pleasure to play with some friends again, rather than a bunch of strangers. Good ol' Jim Scalvunous of the Bad Seeds was there to witness our cacophony.

We played a show with LA noisemakers HEALTH about a month back...we thought we may have killed an audience member at one point...he just wouldn't wake up...but then he did. I don't think anybody has fallen asleep to our music before that guy.

We also played a night entitled POST-APOCALYPSE. We played a non-electrical reinterpretation of our songs...this meant lots of chanting and percussion....I recorded it on a cassette tape somewhere...maybe I will rummage around and transfer it to something more audible.

So, what does the future hold then? A UK jaunt with the Drones, our very own tour of France in June and then Ross and Olgas wedding in Iceland in July. Yum-Yum.

Much love to you all x

As aforementioned Snowman will continue supporting the Drones across the UK.

Here are the dates :

10 Jun - Hare and Hounds, Birmingham
11 Jun - Bodega Social Club, Nottingham
12 Jun - Manchester, The Roadhouse
13 Jun - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
14 Jun - Captains Rest, Glasgow

The Horse, The Rat and The Swan is out now through Dot Dash Recordings.

St Helens album launch in Melbourne this weekend

“one of the best local debuts in recent times” The Age ****

“a timeless world” Sydney Morning Herald ****

“razor sharp guitar interplay and bitter-sweet, intertwining vocals” Triple J – Next Crop

“Heavy Profession is a rock record proper, romantic and drunk on poetic absolutes like all good bleeding heart music should be.” Threethousand

A reminder to all Melbournians that St Helens will launch their brilliant debut album Heavy Profession this Saturday the 30th of May at Northcote Social Club supported by Panel Of Judges, Circle Pit and DJ Ann Ominous.

Since the release of the album these guys have been pretty hard to miss. Heavy Profession has received glowing reviews, was RRR album of the week and last week the band graced the cover of Inpress.

Check it out!

Something else worth checking out is Hannah and Jarrod's appearance tonight on Dancing About Architecture at 9:30 on Channel 31.

Hosted by creator Clem Bastow and her co-panellists Tim Finney and Mia Timpano, Dancing About Architecture covers all things music. Whether it be the latest or the greatest, from CDs to DVDs and MP3s, music blogs to boutique 7" labels.

On tonight's episode Hannah and Jarrod take up One Mic Challenge, previously taken up by Jessica Says and Lee Memorial.

If you don't live in Melbourne, or just can't watch Channel 31 without a snowstorm of static, the lovely people from Dancing About Architecture post up episodes weekly here.

Heavy Profession is out now through Dot Dash.

St Helens Melboune launch Sat May 30

Heinz Reigler, Karl Smith + Tom Lyngcoln Melbourne gig tomorrow

Heinz Reigler, who once fronted Nightstick (and Not From There), is in Melbourne this weekend, performing a solo show tomorrow afternoon with Karl Smith (Lee Memorial, Sodastream) and Tom Lyngcoln (Nation Blue, Lee Memorial).

Nightstick's self titled ep was our very first release on Dot Dash.

Catch Heinz, Karl and Tom tomorrow Sat 2nd May at The Old Bar, 74-76 Johnston St, Fitzroy from 2pm.

And don't forget Lee Memorial's Melbourne album launch Sat 9th May at Northcote Social Club.

The Lives Of Lee Memorial is out now through Dot Dash.

Wolf & Cub announce album tour

triple j, triple j TV, FasterLouder & YEN magazine
present
WOLF & CUB
Science And Sorcery Tour

With Special Guests The Scare

Wolf & Cub’s new album “Science And Sorcery” featuring “Seven Sevens” and “One To The Other” is now in stores and online so it’s time for the band to hit the road with their most extensive headline tour of Australia yet.

Known for their wall of sound live shows, Wolf & Cub have a batch of new songs and sounds to play with this time around. Giving a sneak peek of the new material when they recently toured with TV On The Radio, Primal Scream and V Festival, this headlining tour will allow Wolf & Cub to take their live show to a new level.

Joining Wolf & Cub on all dates will be The Scare. Their debut album “oozevoodoo” is out in the coming months featuring the track “No Money”

The Tour starts in Hobart, Tasmania and makes it way around to every nook and cranny of the country, playing all capital cities and numerous regional areas before finishing up in Fremantle WA.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT www.wolfandcub.com/tickets

Thursday 11th June - Republic Bar, Hobart TAS
Venue: (03) 6234 6954 | Moshtix: 1300 GET TIX (438 849) www.moshtix.com.au

Friday 12th June - Fowlers Live, Adelaide, SA ALL AGES
Moshtix: 1300 GET TIX (438 849) www.moshtix.com.au

Wednesday 17TH June - Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale, NSW
Moshtix: 1300 GET TIX (438 849) www.moshtix.com.au

Thursday 18TH June - Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
Moshtix: 1300 GET TIX (438 849) www.moshtix.com.au

Friday 19th June - Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney, NSW
Moshtix: 1300 GET TIX (438 849) www.moshtix.com.au

Saturday 20th June - Oxford Tavern, Wollongong, NSW
Moshtix: 1300 GET TIX (438 849) www.moshtix.com.au

Sunday 21st June - ANU Bar, Canberra, ACT
Ticketek: 132 849 www.moshtix.com.au

Wednesday 24th June - The Loft, Warnambool, VIC
Capricorn Records: 03 5562 2803

Thursday 25th June - Barwon Club, Geelong, VIC
Venue: 03 5221 4584

Friday 26th June - Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Venue: (03) 9427 9198 www.cornerhotel.com

Saturday 27th June - Karova Lounge, Ballarat, VIC
Venue: (03) 5332 9122 | New Generation: (03) 5333 2444 |Oztix: 1300 762 545
www.oztix.com.au

Wednesday 1st July - Seaview Tavern, Woolgoolga, NSW
www.offbeatoperations.com.au

Thursday 2nd July - Sound Lounge, Currumbin, QLD
Venue: www.thesoundlounge.com.au

Friday 3rd July - The Zoo, Brisbane, QLD
Oztix: 1300 762 545 www.oztix.com.au

Saturday 4th July - Woombye Hotel, Noosa, QLD
Oztix: 1300 762 545 www.oztix.com.au

Sunday 5th July - Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay, NSW
Oztix: 1300 762 545 www.oztix.com.au

Thursday 9th July - Settlers Tavern, Margaret River, WA
Moshtix: 1300 GET TIX (438 849) www.moshtix.com.au

Friday 10th July - Prince of Wales, Bunbury. WA
Heatseeker: www.heatseeker.com.au

Saturday 11th July - Rosemount Hotel, Perth, WA
Heatseeker: www.heatseeker.com.au

Sunday 12th July - Mojo's, Fremantle, WA
Moshtix: 1300 GET TIX (438 849) www.moshtix.com.au

The album ‘Science and Sorcery’ out now through Dot Dash.

www.wolfandcub.com
www.myspace.com/wolfandcub

www.abc.net.au/triplej
www.abc.net.au/triplej/tv
www.yenmag.net
www.fasterlouder.com.au

Wolf & Cub - Science & Sorcery in stores NOW

Wolf & Cub’s new album ‘Science & Sorcery’ is in stores NOW.
Fresh from national tours with TV On The Radio, Primal Scream and the recent V Festival, the band’s follow up to debut album Vessels features radio favourites One To The Other and Seven Sevens.

Produced by Chris Colonna (Bumblebeez) Science and Sorcery was recorded in Colonna’s studio in his hometown of Braidwood in the Southern tablelands of NSW. At what seemed like an unlikely fit at first with Chris’ hip hop cut & paste production style, there was some concern that this collaboration could go tragically wrong which would result in the band emerging as a 80’s derived synth pop outfit.

What originally scared the band has actually inspired them, taking them right out of their comfort zone, giving them the creative challenge they had been yearning for after spending so many months on the road.

The result is a musical departure that will surprise and thrill you.

Science & Sorcery is out now through Dot Dash.

Snowman nominated for WAMI

You can take Snowman out of Perth, but you can't take away Perth's love of their beloved Snowman.

The WAMI 2009 nomination list has been released and Perth expats Snowman, who have relocated to the UK, are up for Most Popular Album.

Winner is decided by Public Vote so get clicking!

2009 Public WAMi Award voting is now open at


www.perthnow.com.au
Voting closes 5:00pm AWST
Thursday 30 April

St Helens in your record store, on your radio and on a stage near you!

St Helens' debut album Heavy Profession is released today and if you're in Melbourne you'll be hard pressed to escape it.

Heavy Profession is album of the week at Triple R, with Jarrod and Hannah heading in for a chat and a couple of acoustic songs on Richard Moffat's 'Incoming' show on Wed 15th April at 5.30pm.

You can catch them playing a live set for PBS' The Easey Street Sessions between 3pm and 5pm on Easter Monday 13th April.

Then you can switch over to hear them on SYNFM's 'The Hoist' (who also made Heavy Profession their feature album) for a chat at 7.20pm.

And of course, you can now head to your local record store and buy it for yourself!

ALBUM LAUNCHES:
Sat 30 May - Melbourne, Northcote Social Club *ALBUM LAUNCH
Fri 26 Jun - Sydney, Spectrum *ALBUM LAUNCH
with other states to follow

Heavy Profession is out today through Dot Dash.

Jessica Says, Melbourne launch Good Friday

JESSICA SAYS
Melbourne launch of her debut album ‘We Need To Talk’
GOOD FRIDAY @ The Toff In Town
w/ DJ Jens Lekman, Dick Diver and Darren Sylvester

Just a quick reminder that the veritably talented Jessica Venables, aka Jessica Says will be launching her debut album in her hometown of Melbourne tomorrow night.

I'll Set The Night Upon You (feat. New Buffalo) [mp3]

'We Need To Talk' has made a deep impression on critics across the country:

"eloquent, affecting and downright gorgeous" - ****1/2 Album Of The Week, Beat & The Brag
"a compelling figure... a phenomenal debut" Inpress
"a guilt-free musical indulgence" J Mag
"a disarming debut... an elegant and touching recording from an excitingly fresh local voice" **** MX
"delicate but swooning classical-folk-pop songs" Rave
"a magical release .. a ghostly and blossoming talent" 9/10 Rip It Up
"an intelligent and affecting soundscape" **** The Age
"windswept, baroque and tender" - Melbourne Magazine
"with sweeping strings, melancholic piano and a voice that is part Kate Bush and part Joanna Newsom... Jessica Says has set the bar very high indeed" Xpress

INTERSTATE ALBUM LAUNCHES:
Sat 25 Apr – Adelaide, The Metro Hotel w/ Megafauna and Fair Maiden
Fri 15 May - Sydney, Hopetoun w/ Hugo Race

We Need To Talk is out now through Unstable Ape Records.

Lee Memorial take up the One Mic Challenge on TV tonight

Lee Memorial are bravely stepping up to the One Mic Challenge, live on Channel 31's Dancing About Architecture tonight.

If you're in Melbourne, tune in at 10pm to see how Karl, Laura and Maddie fair. Otherwise you can check it online later.

The Lives Of Lee Memorial is out now.

VulgarGrad launch King Of Crooks in Hobart and Melbourne this weekend

VulgarGrad, that mysterious band of Russian criminals, launch their long-awaited new CD, ‘King of Crooks.’

You might have sampled their fantastic live performance from their past appearance on Spicks and Specks:



Fronted by Polish-born gravelly-voiced strongman and rough diamond of stage and screen, Jacek Koman, VulgarGrad are the only band in the country that play music by, for, and about Russian thieves: raucous drinking songs, melancholy waltzes, manic oompah and hot Soviet-era swing. Be prepared for a night of gun-slinging, vodka-swilling, foul-mouthed disorder, and watch out for the biggest, most triangular instrument around, the kontrabas balalaika. Wear a stripy top, learn to swear in Russian, and you will dance or the trumpeter will shoot you.

Fri 3 Apr – Tasmania, The Brisbane Hotel

Sat 4 Apr – Melbourne, Corner Hotel
Doors open 8.30pm
Barons of Tang 9.30pm
VulgarGrad on 10.30pm and 11.30pm

VulgarGrad ‘King of Crooks’ out now through Unstable Ape Records

http://www.vulgargrad.com/
http://www.myspace.com/vulgargrad

Lee Memorial - instore performance at Polyester this Friday

Lee Memorial's debut album The Lives Of Lee Memorial is released this week. To celebrate, the band will be appearing at Polyester Records, 288 Flinders Lane Melbourne at 6pm for an instore performance.

Free entry and all ages!

The Lives Of Lee Memorial is out now through Dot Dash.

Lee Memorial - new mp3, album out this Saturday

Lee Memorial's debut album 'The Lives Of Lee Memorial' hits the cd racks this Saturday.

FBi Album Of The Week
RTR Album Of The Week

The band played a gorgeous set at their Melbourne single launch of Berlin a fortnight ago. The new songs went down a treat with many a head nodding and foot tapping. A few wry smiles were also spotting in the audience as they watched accomplished musicians from numerous well known local outfits, come together in an all together different outfit - ex Sodastream Karl Smith fronting a ROCK band hollering Private Joseph Skelling, and guitarist Tom Lyngcoln (usually of Nation Blue) trying his best to restrain his usual onstage thrashing while still unleashing his subdued-by-comparison melodic pop hooks, and Laura McFarlane providing vocals from behind the drum kit.

Enjoy another mp3 from the album.
Long Days In Bed [mp3]

WARNING: this song will be stuck in your head for days on end

The Lives Of Lee Memorial is out now through Dot Dash

Wolf & Cub - the new album Science & Sorcery out April 18!

On the 18th of April Wolf & Cub will release their second album Science and Sorcery.

It’s more than two years since Wolf & Cub broke cover with their debut album Vessels. Those two years seemed to take on a momentum of their own. The album was released around the globe and the band found themselves playing in Japan, Europe, the UK and the USA and touring Australia with TV On The Radio, The Killers, Queens of the Stone Age, Wolfmother and Primal Scream.

At some point the brakes had to be applied, battered road cases stored away and thoughts focused on future sounds. Given the restlessness at the core of Wolf & Cub’s creativity there was never any chance things would be done the same way a second time. New influences, new gear, new ideas necessitate a new approach.

Produced by Chris Colonna (Bumblebeez) Science and Sorcery was recorded in Colonna’s studio in his hometown of Braidwood in the Southern tablelands of NSW. At what seemed like an unlikely fit at first with Chris’ hip hop cut & paste production style, there was some concern that this collaboration could go tragically wrong which would result in the band emerging as a 80’s derived synth pop outfit.

What scared the band now inspired them, taking them right out of comfort zones and creatively giving them the challenge they had been yearning for after spending so many months on the road.

Existing demos were built on, disassembled, reconstructed, sidelined, rediscovered and reassembled. New material was built from the ground up. During the early stages nothing was considered stable, everything had the possibility to change, evolve, disappear and be reborn. Through this process the body of work that constitutes Science & Sorcery eventually took form.

Joel captures the whole experience when he says; “We never attempted to alter the outcome, ‘our sound’ or the songs that make up the album, but there was a conscience effort to change the procedure that created the outcome. I’ll leave it up to others to decide if the sound has gone anywhere else, because I don’t know where it was before. It’s still Wolf & Cub, just another piece of the puzzle.”

Science And Sorcery

TRACKLISTING
1. Seven Sevens
2. What Are They Running
3. One To The Other
4. Master
5. Spider’s Web
6. Restless Sons
7. Hearts
8. The Loosest Of Gooses (Go On Your Own)
9. Blood
10. Burden

Science & Sorcery is out 18th April 2009 through Dot Dash.

Wolf & Cub - Seven Sevens (Brother From Another Mother Remix)

Finally, over the weekend the planets aligned and the sacred codes were passed down and the new Wolf & Cub album was totally finished. It’s called Science & Sorcery, (although some of us here keep thinking it’s called Sword & Sorcery, but we will get it right by the time its out mid-April). Seven Sevens is on the album but the band just slipped us a remix that cranks up the darkly danceable side of their sound, so we thought you might like to take a listen.

Seven Sevens (Brother From Another Mother Remix) [mp3]


Science & Sorcery album now.
Buy from iTunes for an exclusive track. [iTunes]

Jessica Says I'll Set The Night Upon You

If she wasn’t so modest about it all we’d have to say 21 year old Jessica Venables is a precocious talent. She’s already been so in-demand, working with New Buffalo, Jens Lekman, Micah P. Hinson, Sly Hats and Luluc, and now has her own album We Need To Talk out this weekend. We’re hearing a lot of music on the o/s blogs that swims in the same deep blue water as Jessica Says and dare we say we’re thinking maybe she sounds better than pretty much all of it? Evidence? Well take a listen to I’ll Set The Night Upon, which sees Ms New Buffalo (aka Sally Seltmann) repay the favour by singing alongside Jessica.

I'll Set The Night Upon You (feat. New Buffalo) [mp3]

Oh and if you are in Melbourne and Sydney, you can check out the live shows
Thu 19 Mar – Melbourne, Empress
Fri 20 Mar – Melbourne, Yah Yah’s
Fri 10 Apr – Melbourne, The Toff *ALBUM LAUNCH w/ DJ Jens Lekman, Dick Diver and Darren Sylvester
Sat 25 Apr – Adelaide, The Metro Hotel *ALBUM LAUNCH w/ Megafauna and Fair Maiden
Fri 15 May - Sydney, Hopetoun *ALBUM LAUNCH w/ Hugo Race

We Need To Talk is out March 21 through Unstable Ape Records.

Jessica Says dances about architecture

"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture."

Jessica Says (21 year old Melbourne singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentatlist Jessica Venables), will be the first guest on the launch episode of Dancing About Architecture, a new music panel TV show that starts tonight at 9:30pm on Melbourne's C31.

Each episode of Dancing will culminate with a triumphant live performance in the "one-mic challenge" (which does exactly what it says on the label). And the best part? It's all going live-to-air! Jessica Says' will be performing the track His Mother's Ring from her debut album We Need To Talk, out March 21

Dancing will be hosted creator, Clem Bastow, and her co-panellists Tim Finney and Mia Timpano, produced by Renegade Films (the team behind RocKwiz). They'll be, well, dancing about architecture: talking about music. Whether it's the latest or the greatest, from CDs to DVDs and MP3s, music blogs to boutique 7" labels, Dancing wants to talk about it - and tell you all about it. The show will demonstrate that music criticism is much more than a buying guide: it is an art, and one that you will quickly grow to love.

Koolism 'Jam Hot' video

From Koolism's new album The 'Umu, due out later this year.

St Helens announce new album title and head North

With Melbourne audiences buzzing about St Helens' recent live shows, Sydney and Brisbane now get their turn to see and hear for themselves why St Helens have already developed a cult following. They'll be previewing tracks from their debut album due in April. And we can now announce it will be entitled Heavy Profession.

Next month, Friday March 13 at The Tote, they'll be playing with fellow Dot Dash label mates Lee Memorial at their Berlin single launch in Melbourne.

TOUR DATES

Thu 26 Feb – Sydney, Hopetoun w/ Songs and The Ancients
Sat 28 Feb – Brisbane, Rics Bar w/ The Ancients
Fri 13 Mar – Melbourne, The Tote w/ Lee Memorial

How To Choose Your Guru Part 2 [mp3]

Introducing Lee Memorial

Lee Memorial is Karl Smith’s new band.

Lee Memorial is also the latest signing to Remote Control’s Dot Dash label, home of Wolf & Cub, New Buffalo, Snowman, St Helens and Ned Collette. Their debut album The Lives Of Lee Memorial will be released late March 2009.

Karl was one half of Sodastream, who were based first in Perth and then in Melbourne. Between 1999 and 2006 Sodastream:
- Released 4 albums, 5 EPs and a live recording
- Signed with Rough Trade US and Tugboat Records (part of Rough Trade UK)
- Toured Europe 7 times, as well as the USA and Japan
“Quite wonderful” said John Peel, “A blindingly beautiful beam of light” said the Sydney Morning Herald

Lee Memorial is named after a guesthouse in Kolkatta, India where Karl’s family used to stay when he was a child. (Karl lived in Bangladesh and India until he was thirteen).

With Lee Memorial Karl wanted to try something a bit different to Sodastream, to present his new songs with a full band.

Joining Karl in Lee Memorial for the debut album are:

- Laura MacFarlane, one time drummer with Sleater-Kinney and founder of Melbourne outfit Ninety Nine
- Tom Lyngcoln from Nation Blue plays lead guitar, a perversely appealing notion given the somewhat diametrically opposite sounds of the two bands
- Madeline Spawton who has no ragged pedigree, which in many ways is a good thing, but plays clarinet and cello which is exactly what Karl was looking for
- Matt Bailey (ex-Paradise Motel) plays bass (Matt has now departure to pursue his solo project, and Steve Thomas from Zond has taken over bass duties)

Lee Memorial is a band - and a band with genuine chemistry, more than evident by the fact that they recorded eleven of the album’s songs in four days.

The debut album The Lives of Lee Memorial will be released late March 2009 through Dot Dash.

Berlin is a hint of the treat in store [mp3]

They will be launching the single at Melbourne's The Tote on Friday 13th March, supported by St Helens and Lakes.

myspace.com/leememorial

Wolf & Cub and Jenny Lewis announced for V Festival

Having just finished off tours with TV On The Radio and Primal Scream, Wolf & Cub have been announced to play this year's V Festivals. They are currently putting on the very final touches to their sophomore album Science and Sorcery which is due out late March and was produced by Bumblebeez' Chris Colonna. Stay tuned for details of a national album tour.
myspace.com/wolfandcub

Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis will also be playing at the festival, making her Australian debut. Late last year she released her second solo album Acid Tongue that featured many of her steadfast collaborators including Zooey Deschanel, M Ward and Elvis Costello, who has been quoted as saying that Jenny is “Flat out great and no mistake. Jenny is up there with the best singer-songwriters..."

myspace.com/jennylewismusic


V FESTIVAL DATES

Saturday 28 March,
Centennial Park, Sydney

Sunday 29 March
Avica Resort, Gold Coast

Saturday 4 April
Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne

Sunday 5 April
Claremont Showgrounds, Perth

Tom Cooney nominated for AMP

Brisbane balladeer Tom Cooney has made the shortlist for the 2008 Australian Music Prize for his debut album Presque Vu. You can hear tracks from the album at his myspace.

The full shortlist is:
Apocalypso – The Presets
Beaches – Beaches
Havilah – The Drones
In Ghost Colours – Cut Copy
Jungle Blues – CW Stoneking
Love Is Gone – Jack Ladder
Presque Vu – Tom Cooney
Primary Colours – Eddy Current Suppression Ring
Sympathy For the New World – Ross McLennan

The Australian Music Prize for 2008 will be awarded on 13th March.

Tom is currently living in Ireland and is working on new material.

Giulia from Presque Vue

Devastations' only Australian show of 2009 this Friday

A reminder to all you music lovers that Devastions will be playing their only Australian of '09 at Melbourne's East Brunswick club this Friday 6th with support from St Helens.

In the meantime you can read an interview with Conrad over at Mess+Noise.

Devastations also feature on the soon to be released Dark Was The Night compilation having collaborated with Blonde Redhead's Kazu who added vocals to the instrumental track Misericordia from their latest album Yes, U.

DEVASTATIONS ONE AND ONLY AUSTRALIAN SHOW
Fri 6 Feb – Melbourne, East Brunswick Club
Tickets from The East Box Office or 03 9388 9794

Snowman: The Balcony of Our Uprising

Currently calling snowy London home, Perth's Snowman have had an article published in the UK's main Australian newspaper, Australian Times:

Dear Public,

Music is a virus. It can only be contained for so long before it begins to evolve and to breed. The golden strain has now developed. There is no cure. It is airborne, floating in the ether. To attempt to capture it would be like chasing ghosts.

While the global economy crumbles before our very eyes and the fall of the American empire seems imminent, there is a sense that something artistically significant is afoot. As the recession spirals into the next great depression and the major record labels begin to drop like flies, the perfect breeding ground for music is born. From our darkest hours come our finest moments.

You can read the rest of the article here.

In other Snowman news, they'll be playing their first show in Paris on March 4th at La Mecanique Ondulatoire.
They'll also be supporting America's Crystal Antlers at White Heat in London on March 10th.

More details at their myspace.

Wolf & Cub & Lions & Monkeys

Throughout February Melbourne Zoo will be hosting Roar Sounds, a series of live music events set in the open spaces of the zoo's green and lush open air arena. Adelaide's Wolf and Cub are amongst the varied acts who will be taking to the stage and will be playing tracks from their upcoming new album, due out early March.

Wolf and Cub will play Roar Sounds on Thursday Feb 12 along side Sydneysiders Van She. The band are currently playing sold out shows supporting TV On The Radio, Wolf & Cub will be touring nationally with Primal Scream after their nine year absence.

Roar Sounds is your chance take a break from the dark, dingy sticky carpeted venues and see your favourite bands in the amazing surrounds of the zoo. The event is all ages and you can get in early at 5:30pm to check out the zoo’s inhabitants till 7pm. BYO food and drink (no glass besides wine bottles, please!) or buy it there. For tickets, more info and a full line up hit up Melbourne Zoo's website.

TOUR DATES
Thu 29 Jan – Melbourne, Hi Fi Bar w/ TV On The Radio SOLD OUT
Wed 4 Feb – Sydney, The Forum Theatre w/ Primal Scream
Thu 5 Feb – Brisbane, The Tivoli w/ Primal Scream
Sun 8 Feb – Melbourne, Billboard w/ Primal Scream
Tue 10 Feb – Adelaide, HQ w/ Primal Scream
Thu 12 Feb – Melbourne, Melbourne Zoo for ‘Roar Sounds’

Adalita vs Gareth Liddiard on RocKwiz

Last week's installment of the ever popular SBS program RocKwiz saw Magic Dirt's Adalita pit her musical mind against The Drones' Gareth Liddiard.

Adalita kicked off the show with a performance of the Magic Dirt classic Dirty Jeans. The end of the show saw Adalita and Gareth combine their rock might on a cover of The Saints' Messin' With The Kids.

You can watch the performances here.

St Helens - new single and tour dates

With their debut album set for release later this year, Melbourne’s St Helens give us a taste of what’s to come with new single How To Choose Your Guru Part 2. A testament to Jarrod Quarrell’s songwriting skills, the jagged guitars on ‘How To Choose…’ intertwine with a fervent cowbell beat to create an intensely pulsing track.

In the lead up to the release of their album, St Helens will be playing shows along the East Coast starting with a show at Melbourne’s East Brunswick Club on February 6th supporting Devastations on their only Australian show. St Helens’ music is as fervent on the stage as in the studio with word of mouth about their live performances landing St Helens the opening slot for Blonde Redhead after only 4 gigs back in 2007.

TOUR DATES

Fri 6 Feb – Melbourne, East Brunswick Club, supporting Devastations
Thu 26 Feb – Sydney, Hopetoun w/ Songs and The Ancients
Sat 28 Feb – Brisbane, Rics Bar w/ The Ancients

How To Choose Your Guru Part 2 [mp3]

myspace.com/sthelens

Eddy Current Suppression Ring - That Time of Day

Local garage icons Eddy Current Suppression Ring return with their latest slab of raw wax, featuring three longtime live favorites that unjustly became sophomore album off cuts. In a similar nature to Wire’s transition between Pink Flag and Chairs Missing, ECSR’s success of last year Primary Colours saw the four-piece loosen up on their famed short, sharp punk urgency, trading it in for Flying Nun melodies and overdriven Kraut grooves. In retrospect, these ‘new’ reckless stompers are more at home on the 7” format. That Time of Day 7” sees the band return to their roots with over seven minutes of rough 60s punk stupidity. Packaged in a 60s mock sleeve, the release includes Noise in My Head – the theme song they penned for the Triple R radio show of the same name; alongside some of Brendan Suppression’s most interesting wordplay to date.

That Time of Day is limited to 1000 copies and will be released next week through Nervous Jerk.

That Time of Day [mp3]

Aaron Thomas tour starts today

"Australian singer-songwriter Aaron Thomas has the kind of unique, affecting voice that sets him apart from the coffeehouse folk-pop crowd. It's a quavering lilt, indebted to everyone from Elvis Costello to Edith Piaf… chances are you will be won over by Thomas' singularity and sincerity. " - Emusic.com

Worldly trouabdour Aaron Thomas is set to return to where it all began as he begins his national tour today playing songs from his new debut album Follow The Elephants, out now.

Born in Tasmania and raised in Sydney, Aaron moved to Europe and LA as a teenager where he performed solo shows. Now living in Madrid, Aaron released Follow The Elephants to wide acclaim in the Spanish and Portuguese music press, recently winning Spain’s most coveted music competition, Villa de Bilbao, taking out the prizes for Best National Band and Best Pop/Rock Ensemble.

TOUR DATES
Wed 14 Jan – Adelaide, Grace Emily
Thu 29 Jan – Adelaide, The Exeter Hotel
Wed 18 Feb – Sydney, Hopetoun
Fri 20 Feb – Melbourne, Empress
Thu 26 Feb – Adelaide, The Exeter Hotel


Kill This City [mp3]

Wasted Or Crazy (Live at Los Conciertos de Radio 3)


myspace.com/aaronthomasband

Wolf & Cub get Primal

After just finishing off a bunch of festivals over the new year's eve period, playing Falls in Tasmania and Victoria as well as the Southbound Festival in WA, Wolf & Cub have been announced as the support for the national Primal Scream tour. (Wolf & Cub not playing WA)

Primal Scream return to Australia after a nine year absence to headline the 2009 Playground Weekender Festival and complete a national tour in support of their latest album 'Beautiful Future' and have asked Wolf & Cub to join the tour.

With the mastering session booked for Wolf & Cub's new album due for release Feb/March, the band will be playing a load of new tracks including the current track at radio Seven Sevens. Before the shows with Primal Scream, Wolf & Cub will play the TV On The Radio sides shows as a part of their Big Day Out tour.

Primal Scream Tour

SYDNEY - Wed 4th February - The Forum
Cnr Bent St & Errol Flynn Blvd, Moore Park
Tickets $65 + BF From moshtix.com.au or Moshtix Outlets

BRISBANE - Thurs 5th February - The Tivoli
52 Costin St, Fortitude Valley
Tickets $65 + BF From ticketek.com.au
or Ticketek Outlets and primalscream.net

MELBOURNE - Sun 8th February - Billboard
170 Russell St, Melbourne
Tickets $65 + BF From moshtix.com.au and Moshtix Outlets
or billboardthevenue.com.au and primalscream.net

ADELAIDE - Tues 10th February - HQ
1 North Terrace, Adelaide
Tickets $65 + BF From venuetix.com.au or 08 8225 8888
or oztix.com.au primalscream.net

myspace.com/wolfandcub

Koolism 'Jam Hot' sessions

The first episode of the 'Jam Hot' sessions where Koolism take you behind the scenes of the production of their new album The 'Umu.

Snowman honoured by Pitchfork

Snowman have capped off a busy year by getting an honourable mention for their sophomore album The Horse, The Rat and The Swan in Pitchfork's Albums of the Year list. Here's a bit of what they said about the album:

"The record is a proud enigma, technologically advanced and primal, referential but utterly unique, a terrifying vision of our Stone Age future."

Snowman released the album in May and following a national tour relocated to London. If you've been wondering what they've been up to, here's a message from Joe:

To those of you who give a damn,

We are sorry for the long silence, our communication methods were disabled. We have been busy building new lives in London. Slowly the empire is growing. We have found a home of some description, in Walthamstow, E17 (where the group East 17 once hailed from, though I doubt we will be channeling any of their magic). Our home is above an Italian cafe on a high street. On our doorstep there are markets. Most mornings I am woken by the sound of a cockney shouting "two for a pound" or "money back guarantee". I fall asleep at night to the sound of a domestic disturbance or a stabbing. There are seven of us living in the flat. We have one toilet. I am sleeping under a stairwell...in a passage way. Today I am locked inside the house as I have not been allocated a key yet. In time these minor issues will be resolved.

We all appear to have jobs now. None of which are worth mentioning other than Ross'. He is a garbage man.

We have played a few shows here in the UK. We played Leeds, Bristol and London with fellow Australian noisemakers PIVOT. They are fine gentlemen and a wonderful band. Dear chum and label sibling Ned Collette played a show with us the other night too.

We are working on some new things. Bits and pieces. Something will rear it's ugly head at some stage.

We hope you are safe and warm.

Love always,

The SNOWMAN Empire

Snowman will be playing at Madame JoJo's (White Heat) in Soho on January 6th with HTRK.

Magic Dirt get freaky this weekend

A friendly reminder that Magic Dirt's Freakscene Festival kicks off this Saturday the 20th and runs through to Sunday the 21st.

Together with Victoria Rocks – Arts Victoria and the Lakes Entrance Summer Music Festival, Adalita and the boys have managed to put together a two day festival of music, film and workshops all provided free of charge!

Curated and headlined by Magic Dirt, the line up also includes Tim Rogers, The Nation Blue and Gareth Liddiard of The Drones, just to name a few.

It all happens at the Lakes Entrance Recreation Reserve, just 3.5 – 4 hours drive from Melbourne. Click here for more details.

Snowman's First German Interview

German music blog Auf Touren has featured an interview with Snowman frontman Joe McKee. Joe talks about touring, musical influences and the band's songwriting process, particularly on their latest release The Horse, The Rat And The Swan...

AufTouren: Your brilliant last record, “The Horse, The Rat And The Swan”, takes a lot of time. Once you think you discovered it, you really really love it. I would say, it has got no real singles or instant hits and only works as a whole. How does it feel to release something that takes that much time in terms where people like to listen to silly ringtones?

Joe: Well, it took a long time to write. We spent hundreds of hours dedicated to the writing process and focused on creating a piece of art. It is, at times, a challenging piece of art, but all of my favourite art is this way. I think for art and music to truly move someone, it needs to be challenging and engaging at the same time.

For the full interview check out the Auf Touren blog.

Earlier this year Snowman relocated to London playing throughout England including several shows with fellow Aussie band Pivot and Ned Collette. The band are look on embarking tours throughout the rest of Europe and the US in 2009.

Ned Collette adds more international tour dates

Throughout December and January Ned Collette Band will be continuing their three month tour across Europe having already played dates in France, Switzerland, Poland, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria and the UK. Late January will see the band touring New Zealand before returning to Australia for the Melbourne Summer Tones Festival happening in late February.

Tour Dates:
2008

UK:
Thurs 17th Dec - Captain’s Rest - Glasgow, Scotland

2009

Europe:
Wed 7th Jan - Ecurie de L’Ilot 13 - Geneva, Switzerland
Sat 10th Jan - Lego Cafe - Cesena, Italy
Thurs 15th Jan - Schokoladen - Berlin, Germany
Fri 16th Jan - Pimo Bar - Leipzig, Germany
Sat 17th Jan - Beatpol - Dresden, Germany
Sun 18th Jan - Valentin Stueberl - Berlin, Germany
Tues 20th Jan - Cafe Glocksee - Hannover, Germany
Wed 21st Jan - Groningen, Netherlands venue TBC
Thurs 22nd Jan - Biz’Art Bar - Paris, France

New Zealand:
Fri 30th Jan - Whammy Bar - w. Actor/Model & Trees Climbing Trees, Auckland
Sat 31st Jan - Charlie Farleys - w. Actor/Model & Trees Climbing Trees, Waiheke Island
Thurs 5th Feb - Good Luck Bar - w. Actor/Model & Pikelet, Wellington
Fri 6th Feb - Camp A Low Hum - Homedale
Sat 7th Feb - Camp A Low Hum - Homedale

Australia:
Sat 28 Feb - SUMMER TONES @ The Espy - w. Dan Deacon, Lawrence Arabia, High Places, Ruby Suns & more... Melbourne

Ned's latest album Future Suture is available through Dot Dash.
Ned Collette band have a new album due out early 2009.

Belles Will Ring 'Broader Than Broadway' tour

Blue Mountains psychedelic rockers, Belles Will Ring will be touring through out February and March 2009. Their mission: promote the band's new mini album Broader Than Broadway.

Following on from their critically acclaimed debut record Mood Patterns (2007), the mini album has been praised as an accomplished release, once again recorded and produced by the band in a lounge room in the Blue Mountains.

Following an extensive touring schedule through out most of 2007 and early 2008, Belles Will Ring are seasoned players and offer an exciting live show of jangly guitar jams, beautiful harmonies and one of the best rhythm sections you'll ever see.

Joining them for the tour is Sydney based garage-soul band Philadelphia Grand Jury and Brisbane based indie-folk-pop act Little Scout. Both bands were announced Triple J Next Crop Artists in November and will be promoting new singles on the tour.

There is also a free tour sampler featuring 3 tracks from each band available to download - HERE! Included in the sampler is the Broader Than Broadway track Renegades .


"Belles Will Ring have crafted one of the best psychedelic pop albums, mini-albums — fuck it — releases of the year." Mess and Noise

"The whole CD resonates with crystalline harmonies and luscious sonics." Rave Magazine

BROADER THAN BROADWAY TOUR

Thu 26 Feb – Newcastle, Cambridge Hotel
Fri 27 Feb – Melbourne, Northcote Social Club
Sat 28 Feb – Adelaide, Jive
Thu 5 Mar – Byron Bay, Great Northern
Fri 6 Mar – Toowoomba, Bon Amici
Sat 7 Mar – Brisbane, The Troubadour
Fri 13 Mar – Katoomba, Baroque
Sat 14 Mar – Canberra, Transit Bar
Fri 20 Mar – Sydney, Spectrum
Sat 21 Mar – Sydney, Spectrum
+ more dates TBC

A SMAC for Cloud Control

Congratulations to Cloud Control who took the award for 'Best Newcomer' at the inaugural Sydney Music Arts & Culture [SMAC] Awards. The prize tops off a perfect year for the band, who have recently released the Death Cloud EP through Remote Control and via iTunes.

The band – originally formed in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales – have been announced as the national support for Josh Pyke's 'Chimney's Afire' tour, which kicks off in February 2009 and sees the band perform in cities and regional centres around the country.

Cloud Control have promised that before they head out on the road with Mr Pyke, they will be spending some time holed up in a dark studio to record their debut album, due for release in the first half of 2009.

TOUR DATES
* Supporting Josh Pyke
Tue 30 Dec – Peates Ridge, Peates Ridge Festival
Fri 13 Feb – Fremantle, Fly By Night *
Fri 20 Feb – Coolangatta, Coolangatta Hotel *
Sat 21 Feb – Brisbane, The Tivoli *
Thu 26 Feb – Newcastle, Newcastle Uni *
Fri 27 Feb – Wollongong, Wollongong Uni *
Sat 28 Feb – Canberra, ANU Bar *
Thu 5 Mar – Adelaide, Governor Hindmarsh *
Fri 6 Mar – Melbourne, Hi Fi Bar *
Sat 7 Mar – Melbourne, Hi Fi Bar *
Fri 13 Mar – Sydney, Metro *
Sat 14 Mar – Sydney, Metro *

Introducing Jessica Says

Ten Things about Jessica Says

1. Jessica Says is 21 year old Melbourne singer-songwriter Jessica Venables.

2. Her debut album We Need To Talk is to be released on Unstable Ape Records in February 2009.

3. We Need To Talk was produced by Geoff O’Connor (Crayon Fields/Sly Hats) with whom Jessica has collaborated in Sly Hats.

4. We Need To Talk features 10 songs written and arranged by Jessica and a very special vocal cameo by New Buffalo’s Sally Seltmann.

5. For the past year, she has been touring as part of New Buffalo’s band, providing backing vocals, cello and keyboard.

6. She has appeared on recordings by Grand Salvo, Sly Hats, Crayon Fields, Guy Blackman and Luluc.

7. She has also toured Australia as a cellist with Jens Lekman and Micah P. Hinson.

8. As a seventeen year old she was the lead cellist of the Melbourne Youth Orchestra.

9. The artwork for We Need To Talk features exclusive photography by Australian contemporary art wunderkind Darren Sylvester.

10. Jessica Says will next perform at The Evelyn on December 20th, both supporting Crayon Fields.

His Mother's Ring [mp3]

myspace.com/jessicasayssongs

Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! and Fabulous Diamonds added to Laneway Festival

Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! and Fabulous Diamonds have been added to the Laneway Festival lineups in Adelaide and Melbourne respectively.

Having won triple j's unearthed competition, F!SR,F! recently wowed Sydney's Homebake crowd with their unique angular pop. They've also been busy completing their new album, the first single from which is War Coward. The digital EP also features a remix by electro-mashup outfit and fellow Adelaide Laneway guests The Waterslides.
War Coward (Waterslides Remix) [mp3]


Melbourne audiences should be no strangers to the hypnotic and enthralling sounds produced by Jarrod Zlatic and Nisa Venerosa of Fabulous Diamonds. The duo will play the Melbourne Laneway having completed a 30 date tour with Times New Viking and Psychedelic Horseshit earlier in the year. During that time they also released their debut album 7 songs in the US through Siltbreeze, receiving a 7.4 rating from Pitchfork who described their songs as "smooth enough to run your fingers over".
Track 7 [mp3]


Laneway Festival 2009 Dates
Sat 31 Jan - Brisbane, Laneway Festival (Jay Reatard and Stereolab)
Sun 1 Feb - Melbourne, Laneway Festival (Jay Reatard, Stereolab and Fabulous Diamonds)
Fri 6 Feb - Perth, Laneway Festival (Jay Reatard and Stereolab)
Sat 7 Feb - Adelaide, Laneway Festival (Jay Reatard, Stereolab and Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire!)
Sun 8 Feb - Sydney, Laneway Festival (Jay Reatard and Stereolab)

Cloud Control to support Josh Pyke on National Tour

Alt folk blue mountains band, Cloud Control will join troubadour Josh Pyke for his national tour through out February/March 2009.

It's been a big year for Cloud Control, picking up nominations for the SOYA and SMAC awards and touring across the country with the likes of Supergrass, John Steel Singers and Youth Group all in the lead up to their debut record due out Autumn next year.

Their latest single Death Cloud features 2 other tracks including a remix of Into The Line by Sulo (producer for Sydney Hip Hop outfit The Herd). [mp3]



Josh Pyke Chimney’s Afire Tour Dates

Fri 13 Feb – Fly By Night, Fremantle, WA (w/ Steve Parkin)
www.heatseeker.com.au, Star Surf Perth, Planet Mt Lawley & Mills Fremantle

Fri 20 Feb – Coolangatta Hotel, QLD
www.oztix.com.au or 1300 762 545

Sat 21 Feb – The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD
www.ticketek.com.au

Thurs 26 Feb – Newcastle Uni, NSW
www.bigtix.com.au + Newcastle University + The Rockshop + Billy Hyde

Fri 27 Feb – Wollongong Uni, NSW
www.bigtix.com.au + Venue + Redback Music

Sat 28 Feb – ANU Bar, Canberra, ACT
www.ticketek.com.au

Thurs 5 Mar – Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide, SA
The Gov Phone Sales (08 8340 0744) + www.moshtix.com.au or 1300 GET TIX + www.venuetix.com.au or 08 8232 8363

Fri 6 Mar – Hi Fi Bar, Melbourne, VIC
www.thehifi.com.au + Missing Link + Polyester + Greville Records

Sat 7 Mar – Hi Fi Bar, Melbourne, VIC
www.thehifi.com.au + Missing Link + Polyester + Greville Records

Fri 13 Mar – Metro, Sydney, NSW
www.ticketek.com.au, The Metro www.metrotheatre.com or 02 9550 3666

Sat 14 Mar – Metro, Sydney, NSW
www.ticketek.com.au, The Metro www.metrotheatre.com or 02 9550 3666

myspace.com/cloudcontrol

Charge Group - Lullaby for the Apocalypse video

charge-group.com

Devastations return to Melbourne for one show only

Taking a brief hiatus from their hiatus, Melbourne's Devastations will be returning to their home town to perform at the East Brunswick Club on Friday 6th February. This will be their one and only Australian show in the foreseeable future so you'll be a fool to miss it.

Following the release of their acclaimed third album Yes, U in late 2007, Devastations went on a massive five month tour of Europe before heading back to Australia to play a sprinkling of shows earlier this year, followed by a tour of Europe and the UK supporting Blonde Redhead. Early in 2008 the band played a number of festivals including the esteemed Primavera Festival.

The band have also collaborated with Blonde Redhead for the Aaron and Bryce Dessner (The National) curated AIDs benefit compilation Dark Was the Night, which will be released in February through 4AD. The collaboration sees Blonde Redhead's Kazu adding vocals to the instrumental track Misericordia from Yes, U. Conrad has also provided a song for Alan Vega's (Suicide) 70th Birthday EP series which also sees contributions from Grinderman, Primal Scream, Sunn O))) and Peaches.

DEVASTATIONS ONE AND ONLY AUSTRALIAN SHOW
Fri 6 Feb – Melbourne, East Brunswick Club
Tickets from The East Box Office or 03 9388 9794


Rosa [mp3] from Yes, U

Wolf & Cub - Seven Sevens

So many things happen in 49 days…

Wolf & Cub return with Seven Sevens - the new single from their forthcoming album, which will be released in February 2009.

Recorded with Bumblebeez genius Chris Colonna in his hometown of Braidwood, the song is awash with the psyched out vocals and intergalactic guitar of front man Joel Byrne, combined with the driving bass playing of Thomas Mayhew and the highly combustible percussion courtesy of Joel Carey and newcomer Marvin Hammond.

Taking the raw elements of the early demos and coupling them with the studio wizardry of Colonna, Wolf & Cub have created a memorable cocktail, one part lysergic… one part darkly danceable.

Between now and the release of the new album Wolf & Cub will be performing at the Falls and Southbound Festivals and will support New Yorkers TV On The Radio on their Australian side shows in January.

Seven Sevens [mp3]

TOUR DATES

Friday December 12
Festival of the Sun
Port Macquarie, NSW

Tuesday Dec 30
Falls Festival
Marion Bay, TAS

Wed Dec 31
Falls Festival
Lorne, VIC

Thurs Jan 1
Shores on A New Year's Day
Adelaide, SA

Fri Jan 2
Southbound Festival
Perth, WA

Sat Jan 24
The Metro, w/ TV On The Radio
Sydney NSW

Thurs Jan 29
The Hi Fi Bar, w/ TV On The Radio
Melbourne, VIC

myspace.com/wolfandcub

Behind the scenes with Koolism: Hip Hop + MMA = ...

In part III of Koolism's BTS footage of the recording of their new album The 'Umu, we see why too much hip hop and 'Mixed Martial Arts' watching don't mix.


Part I (Return of the Mad Scientist) | Part II (The Booth of Truth)

The first single from The 'Umu, out early 2009, is the slinky, soul-stirring number Jam Hot.

Jam Hot [mp3]

Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! 'War Coward' remix

Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! have spent the past 2 years being the city of churches’ best kept secret, playing enthusiastic and passionate shows supporting some of the best international and national touring acts around.

Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire!’s brand of monolithic, angular rock evokes former glories of bands such as Pretty Girls Make Graves and Q & Not U, as well as current luminaries My Disco and Minus the Bear. F!SR,F! also contains a pop-sensibility often relegated in today’s vapid culture to mobile ringtones and one-hit wonders.

Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire!’s introduction to the Dot Dash/Remote Control Records stable, is the War Coward single/EP- 3 minutes of pitch-shifted, post-millennial tension, led by new singer/chanteuse Caitlin Duff.

Released as a digital EP through iTunes in December 2008, War Coward EP also contains 3 previously unreleased songs I’m Here, Where Are You?, Crisis B and Merchant Ships, as well as a remix of War Coward, by Electro-mashup outfit The Waterslides.

War Coward (Waterslides Remix) [mp3]


Upcoming Shows
Fri 28 Nov - Adelaide, ABRACADABRA Modular Party @ Rocket Bar
Sat 29 Nov - Adelaide, Metro Hotel
Sat 6 Dec - Sydney, Homebake Festival
Sun 8 Feb - Sydney, Playground Weekender

myspace.com/firesantarosafire

KOOLISM are back and it's “Jam Hot”

Jam Hot is a slinky, soul-stirring number that channels 1940s swing to deliver a unique hip hop sound of the near future. The charismatic delivery of the cheeky lyrics lures the listener in, building imagery of a smoke-filled nightspot of a bygone era.

Its jungle-infused rhythm is lead by a hot-steppin’ bass line that drives this undeniable dance floor filler from beginning to end. Just try not to shimmy along to this beat.

Jam Hot is taken from Koolism’s long-awaited fifth album, The ‘Umu (pron. Oo-moo). After a three year hiatus, DJ/ producer, Danielsan, and MC, Hau, are ready to unleash an album filled with the usual Koolism ingredients – soul, love and hip hop.

Jam Hot [mp3]

Hau explains the meaning behind the title:

“‘Umu” is a Tongan word for an underground oven - a cooking technique that is practiced throughout the South Pacific. It’s a long and tiring process in which to prepare and to cook food slowly and thoroughly, but it’s results are rewarding and enjoyed by all who feast on it.

That’s what I feel this album is like. A lot of time, money, heart and soul went into making this album, in which many cases, made it quite grueling and trying. But after all that, the fruits of our labour are now ready to enjoy. And you know how Tongans eat, so you better get a big plate and fill it up!”

The ‘Umu will be ready early 2009, so get your forks and knives ready.

myspace.com/koolismcrew

Cloud Control 'Death Cloud' EP out today

Blue Mountains indie-folk 4 piece Cloud Control release their Death Cloud EP on iTunes today. [Buy]

Title track Death Cloud captures a snapshot of an era when pitch-perfect harmonies were sung over folk hooks and sunny melodies; when pop was pure and just made you smile:


Also on the EP is Mexico and a lush summer remix of Into The Line by Sulo aka Richard Tamplenizza (producer of ARIA nominated hip hop collective The Herd and member of Elefant Traks label/collective).

Cloud Control are nominated for the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards with the winners being announced on November 12 in Sydney.

They have also released a limited edition trans-Pacific 7", collaborating with Telekinesis! (aka Michael Benjamin Lerner of Seattle) on Death Cloud / All Of A Sudden.

myspace.com/cloudcontrol

Magic Dirt Announce Freakscene Festival... and it's FREE!!!

MAGIC DIRT have teamed up with Victoria Rocks – Arts Victoria and the Lakes Entrance Summer Music Festival to create their own Freakscene Festival. Freakscene runs over the weekend of December 20 – 21.

The great news is that it’s all free. That’s right, no charge to get in. All you have to do is pack the car, head down the coast and fly your freak flag high!

Everything happens at the Lakes Entrance Recreation Reserve, right in the heart of the pretty Gippsland seaside town, just 3.5 – 4 hours drive from Melbourne.

Freakscene is a music festival… a short film festival… and a series of workshops for musicians.

The music festival takes place for the whole of Saturday with Magic Dirt headlining and curating the event, assembling their dream line-up on stage. It’s a sonic love-in for bands and fans alike, featuring some of Australia's finest artists, handpicked by Magic Dirt. Acts revealed so far are:

MAGIC DIRT
GARETH LIDDIARD (of THE DRONES)
THEREDSUNBAND | NATION BLUE
CRYSTAL THOMAS & THE FLOWERS OF EVIL | AMAYA LAUCIRICA
MIDNIGHT WOOLF | MODULAR LOUNGE | DANE CERTIFICATE
With more artists to be announced

For more details about the festival click here.

lakesmusicfest.com
myspace.com/magicdirt

St Helens Get Up

Melbourne's St Helens are the inevitable outcome of too many late nights out.

The members of St Helen can trace one degree of separation from Spider Vomit, Bird Blobs, Minimum Chips, Alpha Males and Kes, with occassional contributions from Love Of Diagrams and Panel Of Judges.

Originally formed to give voice to Jarrod Quarrell’s (The New Season, Lost Animal) world weary but ultimately victorious songs, it wasn't long before word spread of the band’s razor sharp guitar interplay, Jarrod and Hannah's bitter-sweet, intertwining vocals and the broken glass danger of their intense live performances. After only four gigs, St Helens were opening for one of New York’s hottest bands, Blonde Redhead.

St Helens have finished recording a new album for release in 2009, the first single from which is Get Up [mp3]

myspace.com/sthelens

Wolf & Cub and Magic Dirt nominated for AIR awards

The nominees for the annual Australian Independent Record Awards have been announced. Adelaide's Wolf & Cub are up for best single/EP for psych-rock release One To The Other (produced by Bumbleez Christopher Colonna) while Magic Dirt are nominated for best hard rock/punk album for Girl. Winners will be announced November 24th at Melbourne's Corner Hotel.

Wolf & Cub have just started their national tour supporting The Vines. Dates and info here.

Wolf & Cub - One To The Other (Bumblebeez Remix) [mp3]


3 months of touring and Magic Dirt still haven't finished, with dates still be be played in SA, Tasmania and regional Victoria. Go here for dates and info. The band have put together a special tour EP that they'll be selling at the shows featuring a cover of the Hard Ons classic 'Suck n Swallow' and a duet with Adalita and Gareth Liddiard (The Drones) called 'Love Is The Armour'.

Magic Dirt - Romy

New Belles Will Ring track

Broader Than Broadway is the follow up to the hugely successful 2007 debut Mood Patterns by Blue Mountains outfit, Belles Will Ring. The new mini album harnesses their creative energy to shape a new record that illustrates the depth and breadth of what the band are capable of: lush multi-faceted ballads and straight forward rock songs, perfectly demonstrated on first single Priest Coats: [mp3]

As with Mood Patterns, the sprawling soundscapes on Broader Than Broadway were self-produced at Three Shades Green (aka the lounge room of lead vocalist Liam Judson's parents).

The introduction to Aidan Roberts (lead guitarist) sharing songwriting credits has consolidated the chemistry of Belles Will Ring, creating a diverse, refined and unified direction now as a 4 piece - originally a 6 piece on the band's conception. The band's songwriting and production capacity has greatly expanded in 2008 with the members individual side projects (Aidan with The Maple Trail, Ivan with Paper Scissors and Liam with The Late Night Sound and production work for The Lovetones and Sister Jane) marking progress and maturity for Belles Will Ring on this release and many more to follow.

Broader Than Broadway is out November 8th.

myspace.com/belleswillring

Ned Collete Band European Tour blog

Midway through their one month tour of Europe, Ned Collette Band have managed to find some ever elusive wi-fi, starting up a tour diary and uploading some pics.

"...every day is another frantic journey into the European abyss - driving, changing tyres, tolls, leaving amps behind in Germany, eating rubber disguised as mashed potatoes, almost getting married off to provincial 'junge frau' in deepest darkest backwoods German pubs, perfecting our 'blue steels' for band photos in front of old stuff, seeing good old pals and of course playing the rock musiques de Australie, oui? They love that shit here."

More over at their myspace.

Introducing Aaron Thomas

Aaron Thomas was born in Tasmania and raised in Sydney. Aaron’s stepfather Lonnie Lee - who had numerous #1 hits in Australia during the early 60's - taught him to play the guitar and introduced him to a world of singing and performance.

Having moved to Europe and LA as a teenager where he performed solo shows, he now lives in Madrid. His new album Follow The Elephants has received wide acclaim in the Spanish and Portuguese music press, Aaron recently winning Spain’s most coveted music competition, Villa de Bilbao, taking out the prizes for Best National Band and Best Pop/Rock Ensemble. One of his recent concerts was broadcast in its entirety on the most popular music show on Spanish television.

Follow The Elephants is a collection of raw and honest material that speaks of the harshness that comes with being a stranger far from home, of the ups and downs of life in general and the frustration of big cities. Songs about relationships, family, distant friends and love.

Kill This City [mp3]

Follow The Elephants will be released in Australia on November 8th. Aaron will be returning to Australia to tour over Summer.

We Don't Care (Live at Los Conciertos de Radio 3)


myspace.com/aaronthomasband

Charge Group 'Escaping Mankind' tour

"A gorgeous, unequivocal piece of musical excellence." The Brag

Sydney quartet Charge Group take to the road through late October and November in support of their highly praised debut album Escaping Mankind.

Recorded by the band and producer Wayne Connolly over numerous session and in various locations, the album is distinctive for its lush instrumentation of strings, flutes and percussion. This - coupled with the unique vocals of singer Matt Blackman (ex-Purplene) - carries this brave and beautiful collection of tunes out of the traditional rock/pop arena and into an untouched, often desolate yet distinctly Australian sonic territory.

TOUR DATES

Thu Oct 30 - Brisbane, The Troubadour w/ Tragic/Athletic + Chalk and Cheese
Fri Oct 31 - Fremantle, Mojo's w/ Felicity Groom and the Black Black Smoke + Benedict Moleta Band + Apricot Rail
Sat Nov 1 - Perth, Hyde Park w/ The Tigers + The Leap Year
Thu Nov 6 - Melbourne, Northcote Social Club w/ Kes Band + Aleks & The Ramps
Fri Nov 7 - Sydney, Hopetoun w/ Pikelet (Melb) + The Dead Sea
Sat Nov 15 - Newcastle, Northern Star w/ The Understudy

Lunar Module (live @ Super-8 Diaries launch - Melbourne)


Vice'd [mp3]

Escaping Mankind is out now. The iTunes version of the album features a bonus instrumental version of Vice'd.

myspace.com/chargegroupmusic

Cloud Control mix it with Sulo

Blue Mountains indie-folk 4 piece Cloud Control have joined forces with Sulo aka Richard Tamplenizza (producer of ARIA nominated hip hop collective The Herd and member of Elefant Traks label/collective) to do a lush summer remix on the stand out Cloud Control EP track Into The Line.

The remix version transforms the already psychedelic dreamy track into a laid back, spacious, beat driven interpretation - using Alister Wright and Heidi Leffner's beautiful vocal harmonies with jazz piano and dub undertones to create the warmth of summer with a kailedoscope of pina coladas.

Into The Line (Sulo Remix) [mp3]

The remix will feature as part of the Death Cloud iTunes package available from November 3rd.

It's been a busy few weeks for Cloud Control. Today they have been announced as finalsts for the Qantas Spirit Of Youth Awards alongside My Disco and Catcall. The winners of the 07 and 06 awards were Dot Dash's Young & Restless and Wolf & Cub, both going on extensive national tours after their wins.

Cloud Control are currently on their Death Cloud Tour, playing in Melbourne this Saturday. They will also be supporting Little Red on their Uni Tour in Wollongong and Sydney next week.

DEATH CLOUD TOUR DATES
Sat 18 Oct – Melbourne, Northcote Social Club
Wed 22 Oct – Wollongong, Wollongong Uni Bar*
Thu 23 Oct – Sydney, Manning Bar*
Sat 26 Oct – Bondi, Beach Rd Hotel
Sat 1 Nov – Brisbane, The Troubadour

*Supporting Little Red

Death Cloud


myspace.com/cloudcontrol

New releases from Department of Eagles, Brightblack Morning Light and Tom Cooney

This weekend saw the release of yet another trio of albums from an eclectic mix of artists: there’s a Brisbane troubadour, a couple of hippies and a duo from Brooklyn.

Presque Vu (meaning “almost seen”) is the debut album from Tom Cooney, sonically pivoting on Tom’s guitar, lyrics and melodies. Many friends added the spokes to roll Presque Vu along including Whitley, and members from Subaudible Hum, Boat People and McKisko. Having previously performed with Fionn Regan and M. Ward, as well as playing at Splendour in the Grass and Homebake, Tom will be launching the new album along the East Coast over the next two weeks, starting in Sydney this Wednesday.

Wednesday 15th - Will & Toby’s, Sydney
Thursday 16th - The Troubadour, Brisbane
Wednesday 22nd - East Brunswick Club, Melbourne

Beneath the Wheel [mp3]



Their hair is long. Their music warm and hazy. They are Brightblack Morning Light. Haunting, beautiful and weird in equal doses, their new album Motion To Rejoin is the perfect Saturday night and Sunday morning album. Recorded entirely under solar power in a remote adobe cabin in the New Mexican mesa, the album recalls musicians as diverse as Bob Dylan, My Bloody Valentine, Neil Young and Otis Reading.

Oppressions Each [mp3]


Department of Eagles are Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear alongside his friend Fred Nicolaus, plus additional help from two other members of Grizzly Bear, Christopher Bear and Chris Taylor. In Ear Park is a delight; both colourful and expansive, built upon an intimate and personal framework of songs and is a definite highlight of 2008. Full of joyful moments, lush production and concise songwriting, In Ear Park is an album that stays with the listener and only encourages repeat visits.

No One Does It Like You [mp3]

New video from Cloud Control

Cloud Control have just released a new single, Death Cloud. It's the first single from their debut LP, due out in Autumn 2009, and you can watch the clip below.

Listening to the band’s beautiful alt-folk strumming, you can hear Cloud Control capturing a snapshot of an era when pitch-perfect harmonies were sung over folk hooks and sunny melodies; when pop was pure and just made you smile.



The band have just finished touring the East Coast supporting Supergrass and will kick off their Death Cloud tour this Friday. Tonight they'll be supporting Holly Throsby in Canberra. Available at the shows will be the split 7" featuring the new single, as well as the track "All Of A Sudden" by Telekinesis! More info about the release here.

TOUR DATES
THURS 9 OCT - ANU BAR, CANBERRA - supporting HOLLY THROSBY
FRI 10 OCT – HOPETOUN HOTEL, SYDNEY
SAT 11 OCT – TRISELES, BLUE MOUNTAINS
SAT 18 OCT – NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, MELBOURNE
SAT 26 OCT – BEACH RD HOTEL, BONDI
SAT 1 NOV – THE TROUBADOUR, BRISBANE

myspace.com/cloudcontrol

New solo track from Mick Turner

As posted yesterday, Dirty Three guitarist Mick Turner is set to play some solo shows this month. One of his new solo songs is

Neither Here Nor There

Go here for details of his solo music and art shows.

myspace.com/trenphantasma

Tucker B's - New Album [soon], Some Shows

The beautiful and powerful thighs of the Tucker B’s are set to swing and kick! The Tuckers have recently finished recording and mixing their fifth (!) long player with the delightful Mr. Burke Reid (The Drones, Mess Hall, Gerling) at BJB Studios in Sydney. To celebrate, the Tucker B bandy will be playing some super special shows around the country during October:

Sat 11th October - Shape Nightclub Perth WA – supporting SPOD (Superfrenz launch)
Sun 12th October - Hyde Park Hotel Perth WA – Tucker B headline show in their spiritual home, plus extra special guests!!!
Fri 17th October - Northcote Social Club Melbourne VIC – supporting SPOD (Superfrenz launch)
Sunday 19th October – Annandale Hotel Sydney NSW – supporting Rocket Science.

The Tucker B’s, along with those delightful little moths at ((((Pompous Records)))) will be sprinkling some final fairy dust over the new record in the coming weeks. Here's a demo of the track First Born Sun, sans fairy dust, which will feature on the album:

The album is due out early next year. In the meantime, don’t miss this rare chance to blow your nose at a Fantasy Rock show!

Mick Turner solo and art shows

Dirty Three's Mick Turner is set to play a series of solo shows this month in Melbourne and Sydney. Having achieved global recognition as guitarist of Dirty Three, Turner has also recorded with Cat Power, Will Oldham and Nick Cave. Parallel to all this, he also performs and records as the Tren Brothers with fellow Dirty Three drummer Jim White. Last year they released the album Blue Trees which received significant reviews in the international media.
"Turner plays electric guitar in warm, oozing strums, with little distortion and an implicit groove; he creates quiet loops of this as background and then layers finger-picked solos on top.” - New York Times

While in Sydney he will also be presenting an art show entitled Nudes, Beasts, Angels, Flowers, a Birth, a Death and Trips to the Ocean. Mick has exhibited regularly in Australia and overseas with his artwork gracing the covers of Dirty Three and Tren Brothers albums. The exhibition launches on Thursday 16th of October at 6pm where you will also get a chance to meet Turner.

Turner will be performing a free solo show TONIGHT as part of Melbourne's Corner Hotel "The Spring Sessions".

SOLO SHOWS

TUESDAY 7TH OCTOBER
CORNER HOTEL Richmond, VIC
2 sets, free entry

FRIDAY 17TH OCTOBER
HOPETOUN HOTEL, Surry Hills, NSW

SUNDAY 19TH OCTOBER
CAD FACTORY, Marickville, NSW

Doors open 5pm til 9pm. Mick Turner & Jeff Wegener on at 7.30pm.

FRIDAY 24TH OCTOBER
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, Northcote, VIC
w/Oliver Mann


Nudes, Beasts, Angels, Flowers, a Birth, a Death & Trips to the Ocean Exhibition

THURSDAY 16TH OCTOBER, Surry Hills, blank_space, 374 Crown St
Launch from 6-8:30pm including opening drinks with Mick Turner

Exhibition: 17-19 OCTOBER, 11am - 6pm or by appointment

myspace.com/trenphantasma

Introducing St Helens

What’s that line? “I can’t remember, I can’t forget.”

That’s how St Helen’s came in to being… the inevitable outcome of too many nights out.

A cursory glance at the pre-history of the people involved reveals one-degree-of separation from Spider Vomit, Bird Blobs, Minimum Chips, Alpha Males and Kes. Satelliting the core band are occasional contributors from Love Of Diagrams and Panel Of Judges.

Initially live shows were intentionally few and far between. Despite this strategy, word quickly spread about the band’s razor sharp guitar interplay and Jarrod and Hannah’s bitter-sweet, intertwining vocals. Four gigs in, St Helens were opening for one of New York’s hottest bands, Blonde Redhead.

An album is already recorded for release in 2009.

St Helens are now focused on sharing their soon to be released material to a growing audience and will be playing a run of dates in Melbourne and Sydney over the coming month, starting tonight as they support Ned Collette at The Tote for his final Melbourne performance.

September
Fri 26th - The Tote, Melbourne w/ Ned Collette.

October
Wed 1st - Birmingham Hotel, Melbourne residency
Thu 2nd - Club 77, Sydney w/ Warhorse & Turtle Creek
Fri 3rd - Loui's Warehouse, Sydney w/ Circle Pit, Songs & The Atrocities
Wed 8th - Birmingham Hotel, Melbourne residency
Wed 15th - Birmingham Hotel, Melbourne residency
Wed 22nd - Birmingham Hotel, Melbourne residency

myspace.com/sthelens

Karina from Young and Restless on RocKwiz

Young & Restless's Karina Utomo appeared on RocKwiz with Steve Lucas on the weekend where they performed a duet of Something In The Air. You can watch the whole show on the RocKwiz website.

Young & Restless will be playing various shows across Australia over the coming months, including in Melbourne this Friday supporting The Faint.

TOUR DATES
Fri 26 Sep – Melbourne, Prince of Wales supporting The Faint
Sat 4 Oct – Geelong, Grazzhopper Festival *all ages*
Sat 11 Oct – Brisbane, Sounds of Spring Festival *all ages*
Fri 31 Oct – Adelaide, Edinburgh Castle Halloween Party
Sat 1 Nov – Perth, Horror Shop
Sun 2 Nov – Perth, Mojo’s
Sat 29 Nov – Coffs Harbour, Open Arms Festival

myspace.com/youngandrestlessau

Police Police


Karina on RocKwiz Firsts & Faves

Ned Collette Band's final Australian shows for '08

This Friday 26th, Ned Collette Band will perform their final Melbourne show of '08 at The Tote. Supporting them on the night are Melbourne's St Helens whose members have one degree of separation from Spider Vomit, Bird Blobs, Minimum Chips, Alpha Males and Kes, with occasional contributions from Love Of Diagrams and Panel Of Judges.

The Tote gig will be filmed and recorded by Nat van den Dungen, beginning an audiovisual document which will also span the band's forthcoming European trip. Come and get your face on...

They will also be playing at Sydney's Hopetoun on Saturday October 4th.

After that they'll be heading off on their European tour which takes in the UK, France, Germany and more, as well as playing at places you'd be hard pressed to pronounce (try saying "Jadlodajnia Filozoficzna" 10 times fast). For the full list of dates go to their website.

Ned will be performing live on Melbourne radio station Triple R at 5:30 this afternoon, performing a cover of Guy Blackman. You'll be able to listen here.

Ned's latest album Future Suture is out now on Dot Dash.

Earlier this year Ned Collette Band performed the single The Country With A Smile from the album on ABC's Sunday Arts program with special guests on flute, trumpet and trombone:




myspace.com/nedcollette

Fabulous Diamonds' debut album has just been reviewed by Pitchfork and has scored a very nice 7.4 rating. Sure, Pitchfork got the name of the album wrong, but nobody's perfect. You can read the review here.

The album 7 Songs runs at a taut 24 minutes with seven (funnily enough) untitled songs culled from their 2007 performance repertoire.

Recorded with Ben Andrews of My Disco in a warehouse over two days, every nook and cranny of 7 Songs is filled with sound, embellished by an assortment of electronic, acoustic and treated percussion, harmonium, tenor saxophone, delay effects, tapes and piano.

7 [mp3]


They have recently returned to Australia after a 30 date US tour with uprising lo-fi trash Times New Viking and Psychedelic Horseshit that coincided with the US release of their album on Siltbreeze (released locally through Nervous Jerk). Fabulous Diamonds will be playing a couple of shows in Newcastle and Melbourne in early October:

Fri 3 Oct - Newcastle, Sound Summit
Sat 4 Oct - Melbourne, Corner Hotel w/ Yeasayer
Tue 7 Oct - Melbourne, RRR performance space w/ Lucky Dragon [US] and Mount Eerie [US]

myspace.com/fabulousdiamonds

Introducing Tom Cooney

Hailing from Queensland, Brisbane-based singer/songwriter Tom Cooney has made an impression on those fortunate enough to encounter this young artist since his first live performances in 2005, and subsequent mini album release Hold Me Down during the year following.

Since then he’s performed alongside the likes of M. Ward and Fionn Regan, as well as playing at Homebake and the Splendour in the Grass.

In 2008 Tom Cooney returns with his first full-length release Presque Vu, out October 11. Meaning 'almost seen', the term is the feeling of being on the edge of something extremely important, or discovering a truth that leaves as quickly as it arrives. Hear a track from the album below:

Beneath the Wheel [mp3]

While the album is focused on Tom's guitar, lyrics and melodies, it also features guest appearances from many friends who added touches of colour along the way. Whitley played lonesome cowboy guitar, Simon and Ryan from Subaudible Hum added layers, Saddleback's Tony Dupe played all sorts of things, McKisko played keys and James from the Boat People played some bass.

To mark the album's release Tom Cooney will be playing shows up and down the East Coast.

Wednesday 15th October
Will & Toby’s, Sydney
**Album Launch**

Thursday 16th October
The Troubadour, Brisbane
**Album Launch**

Wednesday 22nd October
East Brunswick Club, Melbourne
**Album Launch**

Thursday 23rd October
Sound Lounge, Gold Coast
supporting Andy Bull

Friday 24th October
Sol Bar, Coolum
supporting Andy Bull



myspace.com/tomcooneymusic

New videos from Snowman and Magic Dirt

Snowman - Daniel Was A Timebomb



From the album The Horse, The Rat and The Swan out now.
Hear more of the album at myspace.com/thesnowmanempire


Magic Dirt - Romy



From the album Girl out now.
Magic Dirt are currently on a national tour. Check tour dates at myspace.com/magicdirt

Snowman score 8.0 on Pitchfork

Snowman have only just relocated overseas and instantly hit the front page of PITCHFORK. The influential US music blog has given the Perth quartet’s new album The Horse, The Rat And The Swan an 8.0 review, describing it as “practically biblical in the way it strikes you with one hand while pulling you closer with the other.”

You can read the full review here.

The Horse, The Rat And The Swan is out now through Dot Dash.

www.myspace.com/thesnowmanempire

We Are The Plague